“Nobody else really knows and understands what this kind of thing means to the veterans that come to it.”

World War II veteran Tom Wiley is talking about the Veterans Breakfast Club, a gathering of veterans on almost a weekly basis where they can have a good meal and share their stories. And they thank professor and historian Todd DePastino for making it all happen.

It began six years ago when Todd and his friend Dan Cavanaugh, both who had fathers that were veterans, decided to bring other veterans together for a breakfast.

Erika, a singer/actress and graduate from CMU drama school, has used her talent to comfort the children at Children’s Hospital, where she volunteers every week to go room to room dressed as a princess.